Registered Teacher Criteria

The Registered Teacher Criteria replace the former Satisfactory Teacher Dimensions, which are being phased out from 2011 and will be completely replaced by the end of 2013. Their primary purpose is to set out mandatory criteria for teachers who are seeking to gain full registration or to renew their practising certificates.

The Registered Teacher Criteria were developed by the New Zealand Teachers Council on the basis of evidence from a range of research and expert sources about dimensions of quality teaching practice. As part of their development, the criteria were piloted with teachers and other educators. This process also included extensive consultation.

The criteria describe elements of professional knowledge in practice and the relationships and values required for successful teaching. Because these elements are common to all teaching, regardless of the context or teachers’ experience, the Teachers Council regards the criteria as able to support professional growth for teachers at all stages of their careers.

Four overarching statements guide the criteria:- Teachers play a critical role in enabling the educational achievement of all ākonga/learners.- The Treaty of Waitangi extends equal status and rights to Māori and Pākehā. This places a particular responsibility on all teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand to promote equitable learning outcomes- In an increasingly multi-cultural Aotearoa New Zealand, teachers need to be aware of and respect the languages, heritages and cultures of all ākonga.- In Aotearoa New Zealand, the Code of Ethics/Ngā Tikanga Matatika commits registered teachers to the highest standards of promoting the learning of those they teach.Twelve sets of criteria (see links above in English & Māori) are set out around two professional dimensions:- Professional Relationships and Professional Values: Fully registered teachers engage in appropriate professional relationships and demonstrate commitment to professional values- Professional Knowledge in Practice: Fully registered teachers make use of their professional knowledge and understanding to build a stimulating, challenging, and supportive learning environment that promotes learning and success for all ākonga.

The Registered Teacher Criteria provide indicators for the criteria to make explicit what they look like in practice, and they recommend what kinds of evidence show whether a teacher meets the criteria. This evidence includes information from observations of teacher practice and professional discussions, and documents such as assessment records, planning records, and reflective journals.

Decisions about the evidence to use need to take account of the purpose of the exercise (for example, whether for formal appraisal or for mentoring during induction), the content of the criteria, and the four overarching statements. The criteria are accompanied by reflective questions intended to support teachers to question their practice and explore how they might demonstrate the criteria.